A World for Dungeon Fantasy

[mehrkat]

I know Dungeon Fantasy is designed to not really need a world but to be a romp into old fashioned delving but I'm definately a top down Game Master. For me the dungeon fantasy needs a world to shape the concepts. I was trying to think about a world a country and a city that would support the adventurer template and give plenty of stretch for dungeon adventures but gives plenty of flexibility for adventures at all levels. Some of the world concepts are based on a game world idea that I have played with for quite a while what happens to the worlds left behind by the great mages who control armies in magic the gathering. I moved the history a bit nicer a few heroes at the right time.

---- (a very short tale) --
The old man surveyed the youngsters in front of him. Steadying himself on his cane he cleared his throat. The steady hum of conversation ceased in the hall. He had to admit a certain enjoyment in that moment. He stood in front of them and began to speak the story that only he was charged to tell.
"Many centuries ago so the legends say so long ago that the even Elven memory grows dim our world was one of great magic. So great it says that the world shaped to our will. So great that we drew the attention of the war mages. The war mages traveled the dimensions looking to take possession of worlds like ours using the world and its inhabitants to defeat the interests of others of their ilk. No one knows how long they lived on our world long enough to twist the magic of our world. No longer was magic our friend responding to all. Now it was a wild beast responding only to those who completed the appropriate rituals perfectly. When this perfection was not completed sometimes the magic did not work when most needed and sometimes the magic twisted and reeled out of control.
"This was not the only price to pay. The dreaded mana storms where magic ran wild twisting and turning in a tornado of wind, rain and power could be counted on to travel our land constantly. And though it would be centuries before anyone knew this the war mages had set the seeds of the destruction of our world. Only by the intervention of one of war mages trapped and asleep in our world and the concerted effort of great heroes from many different paths was our world saved. This rescue came with a price, however, and that price is The Waste and The Boundary.
"As we have been forced to accept our magic has been twisted beyond any hope of quick repair. The Waste is 50 mile long and 50 mile wide expanse that no one in our land may make a home on. The Waste is an area that changes and connects to other worlds. We have many the theories about why the waste connects to such worlds of darkness. Maybe it was necessary due to the laws of the twisted magics of our lands or maybe the war mages who saved our world saved us so he can be amused by watching the warriors who delve into its depths."
-----
Now for the nonstory information.

The adventurers base of operation is the kingdom of Keyes. The kingdom is about the size of Mississippi and pretty similar as far as climate and environment is concerned. Keyes has one large city (RiversEnd) and mostly small hamlets and forests. Prior to the creation of the Waste RiversEnd was a port city at the base of three rivers. When the waste came into being they began to specialize in delving into the collected lands because their port was replaced by the Waste and the river's still make for interesting trade situation.
The Waste is basically a 50 mile long 50 mile wide location to place dungeons, goblin hordes, denizens of Hell or anything else you want to put there. The Waste changes once per month on the night of the full moon the waste changes to a different world when the moon comes again the Waste changes and whatever was on it goes with it to who knows where. One month it might be a frozen waste with a dungeon at the base of a simmering volcano the next it might be a deser with a keep of undead and a lich lord in the center. All the worlds that it changes to seem well suited to fantasy adventures. But the month doesn't give a lot of time for serious moblizing of troops and its a fairly small space so the hordes don't seem to get out very far in significant numbers.

RiversEnd is ruled by Guilds. These are the four most powerful guilds:
The Adventurer's Guild. This is a collection of dungeon delvers and retired delvers. Dungeon delving without guild approval is a bad idea. They help set the prices of the treasure they find and deal with the power of the
The Merchant's Guild. The Merchant's Guild are the guild that controls the travel up and down the river as well as selling caravans. A very powerful faction within the merchants guild sells magical items and potions.
The Mage's Guild. The Mages guild helps protect RiversEnd and the surrounding areas from things in the Waste. In exchange they recieve payment from other guilds.
The Archivist's Guild. The Archivist's Guild controls the Library at RiversEnd and spends much effort researching the creatures that come through the Waste. As the creatures tend to be similar (allowing knowledge and research skills to be useful)

The Guild's Council is the ruling body. The guilds buy seats on the council each and use those funds to support city projects. This also includes smaller guilds working together to purchase a single seat. The Guilds Council has 12 members.

The continent is ripe for additional adventures and makes good fodder for selling off the things you sold. Any thoughts anyone done anything similar.